TROY -- The Flag Day Committee thinks it's a good idea to "Step Up With A Dollar," and its members hope you do, too.

After a special kickoff ceremony at Manory's Restaurant Saturday, the parade committee will officially launch its new campaign to raise funds for the nation's largest tribute to our flag later today. The initiative will run through early April.

Because of the continuing soft economy, the coming impact of sequestration, a lack of state funding, and the mounting cost of putting on a parade that is a proper salute to the flag, committee members will need to make a decision by early May whether it is financially feasible to put on a parade this year.

"With all this economic uncertainty, businesses that normally support the parade are wary of making donations not knowing what is ahead of them and their employees," explained Flag Day Committee President Ed Manny.

Advertisement

The 46th annual parade is tentatively slated to step off in South Troy at 1 p.m. June 9 and proceed north into downtown Troy.

"This year, not only are we facing the cost of paying for groups who normally take part in the parade," Manny said, "but we are also looking at paying the cost of the fuel that it will take to get them here for the parade."

Because of that increased expense, Manny said, this year's parade is expected to cost between $30,000 and $35,000.

"This parade is one of the biggest events that happens in this city on a Sunday, attracting thousands of people here and benefiting local businesses who remain open on that day," he said.

Upwards of 50,000 people turn out for the annual parade, the committee official said, "and if everybody who watches the parade donated just $1, we would be able to put on a parade this year that is our country's biggest tribute to our flag.

"It's a flag that mothers and fathers, sisters and brothers, sons and daughters are fighting for and dying for today, and we want to keep this proud tradition going."

Now that the parade no longer receives $15,000 from the state, committee members are grateful for the support they continue to receive from the city of Troy and Rensselaer County.

In addition to the $2,500 the parade committee receives from the city, it also has access to support from almost every city department for the parade such as police, fire and the Department of Public Works for such tasks as crowd control, medical, and cleanup, Manny said.

"We're also grateful for a $2,500 donation from the county, too," he added.

To take part in the "Step Up With A Dollar" campaign, please mail your checks to Troy Flag Day Parade Committee, P.O. Box 56, Troy, NY 12181 or to The Record, 501 Broadway, Troy, NY 12180 Attention: Step Up With A Dollar. Contributions will also be accepted at the newspaper's downtown office at the corner of Fifth Avenue and Broadway.